Past Pages for Friday, July 5, 2013

140 Years Ago

President Lincoln’s Duel: A witty young lady wrote a communication for one of the Springfield papers that General Shields considered as personally offensive.

He forthwith went to the newspaper and demanded the name of the correspondent.

The poor man did not want to betray his lady correspondent so he came to Mr. Lincoln and told him of his trouble. Lincoln at last said to him, “When Shields comes around with his club tell him that Abe Lincoln wrote that letter.” Shields could not back out without being ridiculed so he challenged Mr. Lincoln. Lincoln was advised against dueling and the matter was dropped.

130 Years Ago

Orphans home: There is favor of introduction of gas in the Orphans’ Home. The upsetting and breaking of coal oil lamps is liable to ignite the tinder box and cost of lives of the little ones ...

120 Years Ago

Editorial notes: A New England woman’s pastor recently asked about her health. She said, “I feel very well, but I always feel bad when I feel well because I know I am going to feel worse afterward.”

70 Years Ago

Advertisement: “Daily Bros. great 3-ring Circus — See baseball game by elephants, a acrobats, aerialist, equilibrists, riders and equestriennes in feats of skill in daring, amazing trained animals and clowns galore ... ”

50 Years Ago

Housing ads: Three bedroom, 2 bath home, corner lot, west side, $30,000; three bedroom home plus bachelor apartment. est side location, corner lot, trees, $17,500.

30 Years Ago

Maine: Samantha Smith and her parents will be travelling to Russia at the invitation of Yuri Andropov. The sixth grader wrote the Soviet leader expressing her concerns about the nuclear war. She received both an answer and an invitation from the Russian leader.

Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.